There are many different ways in which you can set up your rabbit's living space!
Your rabbits should be indoors.
If you can't have them in your house, I don't recommend getting a rabbit. This is because:
Rabbits are prey animals and can be frightened, literally, to death upon even seeing a predator. Unless their home is like Fort Knox and you are able to provide heat lamps in winter, please allow them to live in your home.
The weather can also be extreme outdoors, even in England, and rabbits can struggle to effectively regulate their body temperature.
Outdoor rabbits usually live in a hutch that is just not big enough. Although pet shops sell hutches, this doesn't mean that they should be kept in one. The original use of a hutch was to house rabbits bred for meat.
Rabbits need at least 5-6 hours of exercise every single day. If they're outside in a hutch they're not going to have adequate space for zoomies and binkies. Sure, you might let it out to play in their run every day (which should be at least 8ftx4ft), but would you stay out there and socialise with it, for 5 hours, during winter?
You can't bond as strongly with your rabbit if you don't hang out with them regularly! If they're outside, how realistic is it that you will spend hours with them during winter?
But, my rabbits do live indoors!
That's great news in my book!
It's even better to hear that a bunny isn't living in an indoor cage like this one sold at Pets at Home. For perspective, my rabbits' litter box is this big!
Rather, your rabbits (notice the plural throughout this article - rabbits are social creatures and they need a companion of their own species!) should be living in at least a puppy pen that is 10ft x 6ft (size recommended by the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund) and is 1 metre high so that your rabbit cannot hop out. If you are unable to give them this much space, they should at the very least have a 6ft x 6ft pen, and then allow them a few hours out of this pen to hop around an area of your rabbit-proofed home.
Absolute necessities
There are always things you can do to improve the life of your rabbits, but first their pen needs to have the basics:
Ceramic food and water bowls. The weight of which prevents spillages. MY rabbits like to throw their bowls around otherwise!
A place to hide.
A soft place to sit / lay down.
Solid flooring to prevent sore hocks.
A large litter box (with non-clumping, rabbit-safe litter. NOT clay cat litter or sawdust!) I recommend paper litter.
Unlimited hay in / above the litter box in a rack with large openings.
Non-slip flooring / a large rug to allow for zoomies.
Toys to chew and keep brains stimulated. Rabbit teeth never stop growing and so need to be kept trim by gnawing on toys and hay.
It's no secret that I've made mistakes when housing my rabbits, but the main thing is that I've learnt a lot since then! If you're unsure of how to make the most of your space indoors, it's time to think outside the hutch and check out these setups!
1.
Photo source: BunnyApproved.com
Pros:
So. Much. Space!!! This is really great.
Lots of enrichment: Chew toys, hidey holes, beds, places to jump up high, tunnels.
There are rugs dotted around for grip.
A big litter box!
Lots of hay right next to the litter box.
There are multiple rabbits!
Cons:
A larger rug would be much better to allow for non-slip zoomies.
It's not entirely clear, but it looks like there is a plug socket in the back left corner of the room. To be extra safe, this should have a child-proof cover clipped into it when not in use.
2.
Photo source: Happy Tails/ YouTube
Pros:
Glass / perspex enclosure stops bar chewing and potential dental problems.
Lots of space!
A good sized litter tray with hay on offer.
Large, heavy food and water bowls.
There's a cool-looking toy in there.
I love the cute blankets for grip! It's also great that the blanket edges are outside the pen, to stop from chewing and to hold them in place.
Cons:
A hay rack with large gaps for unlimited hay would be much better. Placing hay directly into the litter box is fine, just as long as it's being replenished regularly. That much hay is not enough for 1 day.
Unless there is a bun hiding in one of the houses, this rabbit needs a friend!
There needs to be more toys.
3.
Photo source: Rabbitrehome.org
Pros:
Lots of space!
Lots of toys - both to chew and also just throw around.
Rabbit friends!
Lots of good places to hide.
Places to jump up high.
A really great, large litter box. The hay racks are great too as they have large holes to pull out the hay. It's a fab idea to have multiple hay racks, especially for multiple rabbits.
Fencing along the wall is a good way to protect skirting boards from being chewed.
The water bottle bowl is a good way to ensure your rabbits always have water available.
The jump-on boxes are placed against the wall - this stops bunny from jumping out.
Cons:
There is no rug for grip when bunnies want to zoomies.
There are no blankets on either of the beds - a cosy place to cuddle up in is needed!
4.
Photo source: The Littlest Rescue
Pros:
What a fantastic use of space! The gap underneath your stairs makes for a great bunny cubby hole that doesn't take up any extra space in another one of your rooms.
A decent amount of space.
It looks like the space extends further under the stairs where there is a hay rack and litter box, too.
There is an awesome castle for bunny to jump on, hide in, and keep a lookout.
Lots of toys.
Large ceramic water and food bowls.
A rug allows for running around without sliding on the laminate flooring.
The wood plus perspex barrier stops bunny from chewing on the bars. Not a necessity, but if your rabbit is prone to bar chewing, swapping to this may improve their dental health.
Cons:
Even more space would be amazing.
A bunny friend to hang out with (unless there's another one hiding somewhere we can't see!)
If Apollo or Athena were in this pen, they would find a way to jump out as Athena especially is a rascal! I would either make the pen a little taller, or remove the smaller tier from the castle as it is quite close to the side of the pen.
5.
Photo source: Pinterest
Pros:
Two tiers! So much space! Wow!
The wire bottom of the upper floor has been covered with soft flooring to prevent sore hocks.
Places to hide
Heavy food and water bowls
Toys
Litter boxes are with their hay
Soft places to relax
Rabbit friends!
Cons:
Although there are two litter boxes, it would be even better to just have one, larger litter box.
I really hope this gave you some inspiration on how to help your rabbits live a more comfortable life.